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Post by yetihunter on Jun 16, 2018 22:20:36 GMT -5
So Its stressing me out wondering if I should buy the kss50 or kss40. I feel like the 50 looks like it has more options and looks better made? Either way the blade prices suck. I would use those diablos on the kss40 but then you can’t cut 2x4. I found some blades from a manufacturer in Germany that are 120mm bore20mm 24t and 40t. The prices were 20$ and 30$ including shipping and vat I felt the same. I did end up with the KSS40 and I bought the new Metabo 57 LTX (cheap!) for decking and cutting studs. Felt like a great solution with the same battery platform. I ended up not keeping the KSS50 but part of that decision was that I already had the KSS40 and that I was looking to get a more specialized plunge and sheet good saw and I replaced the MT55cc with the battery version so my line up now is: Mafell KSS40 for general carpentry and trim indoors. Does 95% of all my work. Metabo KS57 LTX for the "dirty work" and outdoors. Mafell MT55 18V for more delicate work. If I could only have ONE saw for general carpentry I would be tempted by the Festool HKC55 for the improved plunge action for a cross cut track saw but I also think the quality of cut leaves a little to wish for compared to Mafell for the finer work. I'm still in analysis paralysis between the HKC and KSS50, and that's good, because I don't need either. The HKC doesn't just have a better plunge, the depth control is better (just my opinion), and it offers a shorter rail. Although, I disagree with this logic, I run HK blades on my MT55, so, there's that, too, I guess. However, as far as I'm aware, it's probably hecka wimpier. I know heads are going to explode, but I'm actually considering a cordless Carvex... :0
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Post by aas on Jun 17, 2018 5:36:04 GMT -5
The Carvex is rubbish - I can't imagine putting a battery can improve it one iota.
The P1CC is the best jigsaw I have ever owned. If it was available with an LED and a battery I would be very happy. As it is, for small cuts and to be free from a cord, the new Makita CXT 10,8v BL barrel grip is working out very well.
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Post by henrun on Jun 17, 2018 7:37:16 GMT -5
Yetihunter: I feel ya!
The HKC could have been my "one and only" portable saw if it had surfaced a little earlier. However, cut quality in same material has been worse than with the KSS saws. Still it would have been acceptable to me for most of the intended work. The lack of power/grunt is a bigger problem me thinks. Still, it is a great all rounder.
The Carvex? Nah, don't do it. Looks are deceiving you. I've tried TWICE to "make do" with the Carvex but it is simply too poor in performance and the last one I tried would not release the blade easily as the plunge rod didn't stop at the right spot so the release lever could catch the blade release. If given one for FREE I would still hesitate.
The Carvex is an insult for the price. ONE _jigsaw_ that needs TWO systainer II's to haul all the bits and pieces? And still can't cut straight? Bah.
The Metabo barrel grip 18V is not perfect either but it works well, can tilt the base, costs a lot less and can share a ride in a SYS II with the Metabo Multicutter (good machine) with batteries and charger. Half the footprint for two machines and cheaper than the Carvex!!!
Festool does not even have a cordless multicutter yet.
Ain't getting another cordless jigsaw until and if a Mafell 18V comes out.
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Post by aas on Jun 17, 2018 14:12:41 GMT -5
Ain't getting another cordless jigsaw until and if a Mafell 18V comes out. No plans for one apparently...
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Post by henrun on Jun 17, 2018 14:31:44 GMT -5
Ain't getting another cordless jigsaw until and if a Mafell 18V comes out. No plans for one apparently... I know... So, no soup for me!
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Post by yetihunter on Jun 17, 2018 22:25:13 GMT -5
I owned the corded Carvex. Blade change mechanism on it is the worst I've used on a jigsaw. I get the complaints, but.... Carvex VS Bosch (which I have and it's wimpy) VS Metabo is what I'm looking at. Oh, and mind how difficult it is to get barrel grip in the states . Annnd, Carvex is the one of those three that takes the thicker blades I like. And the circle jig is legit. Is it really that bad? It can't cut 40mm material? Cause the really well built cordless Bosch I picked up for a hundred dollars does not enjoy cutting anything over an inch in thickness. I know, I know: don't do it. I won't. Or I will and sell it again.
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Post by yetihunter on Jun 17, 2018 22:28:07 GMT -5
Ain't getting another cordless jigsaw until and if a Mafell 18V comes out. No plans for one apparently... A cordless P1cc would have to be 36v to even think about matching the performance. I get it.
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Post by aas on Jun 18, 2018 9:45:16 GMT -5
Mafell say the MT55 is matched with one 18v battery... I haven't tried it yet. I'm pretty sure they could do a P1Cc on 18v.
For the Bosch... I don't know what you expect for 100$ your side of the pond, but the equivalent is 86€ at todays exchange, I'd expect a jigsaw for cutting butter for that price (only if it hasn't been kept in the fridge)!
The Metabo can't be worse than the Carvex, neither can the Makita BL. It is almost the worst jigsaw I have ever used, I say almost because I did use a 20€ budget jigsaw once, and the Carvex was marginally better!
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Post by henrun on Jun 18, 2018 10:40:22 GMT -5
I have the Metabo barrel grip STA 18 LTX 140. It is a "good" jigsaw. Not great.
It is better than the Carvex for a few reasons:
It is cheap. Compared to the Carvex. It can tilt the base without accessories. It is sturdy and reasonably comfortably in use. Blade release works.
Negative is that it doesn't cut as square in thicker material as the P1cc does. But neither does the Carvex. Also it does vibrate more than the Carvex unless you really push it in to the material.
When my KSS40 went kaput I only had the Metabo jigsaw on site so it had to cut up large segments in walls - about 100x180cm per segment) consisting of 19mm MDF and two layers of drywall - which it did really well. It was a tough job for any saw and the Metabo did me proud. Cuts were square enough and much better than the Carvex would have done on the same type of cut. I did have to retighten the base nut on the Metabo as it came loose and made the base tilt. Not the locking lever but the tension bolt for the locking lever. I think it was never tightened up that well to begin with and after tightening it it stayed put for the rest of the grunty work.
I don't think the Carvex would have tackled that job without needing service.
I don't use jigsaws much in thick materials. I hardly ever tilt the base so the Carvex would work for me - only it really doesn't... ...blade (Festool original blades) deflect from square sometimes even on thinner stock. Blade change is a joke. But when it works it is nice to operate.
I think that if Metabo does that well with a single 18V battery and Mafell KSS40/55 and MT55 18 all get by on a single battery, then a 18V P1cc should do really well too. Maybe not as well as the corded but good enough.
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Post by yetihunter on Jun 18, 2018 14:17:42 GMT -5
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Post by henrun on Jun 19, 2018 1:30:07 GMT -5
First link it is. A basic, no frills but tough going machine which is not top of the market but as good as or better than most others and no serious drawbacks except some vibrations in some material and can be a little "jumpy" depending on blade/material but if applying light pressure it stays on track with the cut. Carvex feels smoother in cutting for sure - but does not cut more true when it comes to keeping the cut square. The Metabo multicutter is pretty basic and good too so I have them together in a Systainer II and they do their job as "beater" machines without complaints. The Multicutter takes all blades on the market, Supercut with supplied adapter, OIS by default and Starlock with the new adapter. Best value pairing in my book for occasional use machines. Still have the corded Supercut for "bigger small jobs" but only use it a few times a year at most. Beware of the second link machine, it is the "new" one. I have not tried the 18V version but if it is anything like the small corded version they released which looks the same it is a really poor machine. I bought one (dirt cheap) for rough cutting raw stock at the workshop, tried it on one cut and handed it back... ...extreme vibrations and poor cut performance. It is apparently a joint product machine and I have seen it in Hitachi shroud as well - which comes as a shock as it was really bad. It was dirt cheap, but no value for money. I am almost at the point of wanting to try out the battery version again as I could not believe how bad the corded was. Sole is skinny and not compatible with the accessories for the STA 140 18 LTX (in the first link) and it does not seem to be built to withstand any abuse.
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Post by yetihunter on Jun 19, 2018 16:36:54 GMT -5
Now it all makes sense. Because the new one looks like a piece of junk. :0
The one you have is actually a pretty old model now in 2018 (I think it came out 7 or 8 years ago?). It's the follow up to the STE/STEB 135 I had (which could murder you if dropped on the head, but not at all precise).
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Post by yetihunter on Jun 19, 2018 16:38:27 GMT -5
I'm wondering if the barrel grip Bosch is any good? The D handle, I hate because there's no trigger lock, but other than the wimpy power, it's built really well.
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Post by henrun on Jun 19, 2018 17:04:27 GMT -5
The barrel grip Bosch is one of the best on the market for sure and since you have Bosch 18V already (right?) that is a winner for sure. One of the best barrel grips, slim and quite low profile and strong enough. Did a reno with that 18V and was impressed for sure. It is the benchmark 18V for me nowadays and better than the Metabo.
The Bosch multicutter 18V is a dud though, apparently the machine vibrates off the battery over time. Happened to a few according to the sales rep, happened to me too!
I wasn't long into Bosch, it was a stop gap solution and I bought a kit that got divided up after the reno. Some nice stuff but I was still well into Festool and was adamant I would stay into one platform - which was stupid and a decision not based in the bleak reality.
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Post by yetihunter on Jun 20, 2018 0:05:09 GMT -5
Sold! Now if only I can find one without the useless LBOXX since Bosch (of course) doesn't sell the barrel grip version in the US. :0
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